2021 All-Tip-Off Classic Teams

First Team
Macaleab Rich	East St. Louis
Christian Jones	East St. Louis
Damari Wheeler-Thomas	Elgin Larkin
Fernando Perez Jr.	Elgin Larkin
Terrion Langston	Chicago Bogan
Second Team
C.J. Johnson	Chicago Clark
Demarion Brown	East St. Louis
Jaybari Moore	Chicago Bogan
Jemere Jefferson	Rockford East
Bryson Hodge	Rockford Guilford

All-Time Tip-Off Classic stats, standings and leaders!

All-Time Tip-Off Classic Career Scoring
Player	School	Years	G	Points
Damari Wheeler-Thomas	Larkin	2018-21	14	218
Chris Burnell	Rck. East	2015-18	16	211
Jalen Shaw	Larkin	2015-17	13	200
Terry Ford	Auburn/Jeff.	2015-17	12	179
Fernando Perez Jr.	Larkin	2019-21	10	161
Sha'Den Clanton	Guilford/East	2016-18	12	161
Anthony Lynch	Larkin	2016-17	9	156
Scott Gowan	Rck. East	2014-17	15	156
Pierre Black	Larkin	2016-18	13	139
Yahmir Muhammad	Auburn	2015-17	12	133
Christian Negron	Larkin	2014-15	8	132
Tyler Knuth	Rck. Guilford	2017-19	12	126
MyQuion Garrett	Rck. Jefferson	2016-17	8	120
Sincere Parker	Rck. East	2018	4	115
Quillin Dixon	Rck. Jefferson	2016-17	8	111
Latrell Graham	Rck. Jefferson	2018-19	8	104
Jordan Howard	Hwd. McArthur	2017-19	12	103
Austin Revolinski	Belvidere	2014-16	12	102
Trevor Ward	Hwd. McArthur	2017-19	12	102
Caleb Miller	Chi. Perspectives	2018-19	7	102
Kijuan Burns	Freeport	2017-18	8	100

Single Game Tip-Off Scoring Record
Player	School	Pts.	Opponent	Year
C.J. Johnson	Chi. Clark	35	Guilford	2021
Sincere Parker	Rck. East	33	Marina	2018
Damari Wheeler-Thomas	Larkin	32	Auburn	2021
Terry Ford	Jefferson	32	St. Rita	2017
Macalaeb Rich	E. St. Louis	31	Harlem	2021
Christian Jones	E. St. Louis	31	East	2021
Sincere Parker	Rck. East	31	Pike	2018
Latrell Graham	Jefferson	31	Larkin	2018
Chris Galvan	J'ville Parker	31	Freeport	2017
Jalen Shaw	Larkin	31	Guilford	2016
Jakob Alamudun	Hnt. Beach Marina	30	East	2018

All-Time 205 Tip-Off Classic Records
School	Years	Wins	Losses	Titles
Rockford Auburn	7	18	10	2014
Elgin Larkin	7	15	16
Rockford Jefferson	5	14	6
Rockford East	7	14	14	2018
Indianapolis Pike	5	10	2
Rockford Guilford	6	10	14
Chicago Bogan	2	8	1	2019
Chicago Hyde Park	4	8	2	2015
Hollywood McArthur	4	7	9
Proviso West	2	6	3	2016
Belvidere	4	6	10
Chicago Whitney Young	1	5	0	2017
Machesney Park Harlem	2	5	4
East St. Louis	1	4	0	2021
Chicago St. Rita	1	4	1
Madison LaFollette	3	4	2
Chicago Perspectives	4	4	12
Milwaukee Bay View	2	3	1
Chicago Farragut	1	3	1
Freeport	4	3	13
Chicago Clark	1	2	0
South Elgin	1	2	2
Huntington Beach Marina	1	2	2
Chicago Dunbar	1	1	3
Janesville Parker	3	1	5
Milwaukee Vincent	1	0	2
Madison West	1	0	2
Chicago DRW College Prep	1	0	3
Chicago Julian	1	0	4
Chicago Providence St. Mel	1	0	4
North Chicago	3	0	10

205 Tip-Off Classic leading scorers

Player	School	G	Points	Avg.
Damari Wheeler-Thomas	Larkin	5	120	24.0
Bryson Hodge	Guilford	4	84	21.0
Macaleab Rich	East St. Louis	4	83	20.8
Fernando Perez Jr.	Larkin	5	90	18.0
Nasir Young	North Chicago	4	72	18.0
Christian Jones	East St. Louis	4	72	18.0
C.J. Johnson	Clark	2	35	17.5
Terrion Langston	Bogan	4	63	15.8
Mikell Jones	Clark	2	27	13.5
Jacob Blakley	Larkin	5	65	13.0
Jaybari Moore	Bogan	4	51	12.8
Lathan Lewis	Harlem	5	63	12.6
Robert Chaney	Auburn	4	50	12.5
Dontrell Dixon	Bogan	4	50	12.5
Demarion Brown	East St. Louis	4	50	12.5
Deandre Young	Harlem	5	62	12.4
Suliman Agiste	Clark	2	24	12.0
Darrion Mason	Perspectives	4	45	11.3
Dane Dailing	Harlem	5	56	11.2
Malachi Johnson	Guilford	3	31	10.3
Randy Johnson	Jefferson	4	41	10.3
Brennan Horton-Lee	Auburn	4	40	10.0
Alex Wilson	Harlem	5	50	10.0
Nigel Posley	Jefferson	4	40	10.0

205 Tip-Off Classic final standings

School	W	L	PF	PA
East St. Louis	4	0	289	220
Chicago Clark	2	0	128	82
Elgin Larkin	4	1	355	300
Chicago Bogan	3	1	304	223
Rockford East	3	1	248	187
Rockford Jefferson	3	1	211	171
Rockford Auburn	2	2	230	193
Machesney Park Harlem	2	3	322	338
Rockford Guilford	1	3	267	267
Winnebago	0	1	70	71
DRW College Prep	0	3	61	261
Chicago Perspectives	0	4	176	232
North Chicago	0	4	163	279

East denies Larkin 205 Tip-Off Classic title

ROCKFORD - The East E-Rabs registered the most impressive win for a NIC-10 team at this week's 205 Tip-Off Classic and denied Elgin Larkin, the event's most loyal visitor, its first Classic title.

Jemere Jefferson scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half as the E-Rabs rallied to beat Larkin, 59-56, handing the Royals their first loss of the season.

The result meant Larkin, which has played in every Tip-Off Classic since it was started in 2014, finished the week-long event at 4-1. It also means the tournament trophy will go to this year's splashy newcomer, East St. Louis, which went 4-0. 

It was a redemption game for Jefferson. The senior guard, who was special mention All-NIC-10 for the Jefferson J-Hawks last season, started the Tip-Off Classic strong with 16 points against North Chicago on Friday morning. But he was held scoreless by East St. Louis Friday night.

The game was back-and-forth throughout. The E-Rabs scored eight of the first 10 points only to see the Royals roll to a 28-22 lead at halftime. The Royals pushed the lead to seven, 35-28, but the E-Rabs went on a 13-2 run to grab a 41-37 lead.

Larkin opened the fourth quarter by scoring the first five points to jump back in front and the teams traded the lead several times. Larkin suffered a major blow with 2:04 to play. East was leading 55-52 when Damari Wheeler-Thomas, who set the all-time career Tip-Off Classic scoring record during the game, committed his fifth foul on what initially looked like a steal and breakaway layup.

Without Wheeler-Thomas, who finished the game with 18 points, East was able to hold off the Royals despite making two out of six free throws in the final two minutes.

East's defense throughout was solid. Although Wheeler-Thomas got 18, he came into the game averaging 25.5. The E-Rabs also slowed down Fernando Perez Jr., who averaged 20.5 points in his first four Tip-Off games but managed just nine against East. Jordan Blakley, a sophomore, scored 12 points for the Royals and Armani Ivy had 10.

East got solid contributions from junior forward Matthews Hoarde, who came off the bench to score 11 points. Rashard Young had nine points and NeSean Hardaway had eight, including hitting all four of his free throws in the fourth quarter.

The E-Rabs went 3-1 in the Tip-Off Classic. They are the defending NIC-10 champions, but they have an entirely new starting five. They begin defense of the conference title on Wednesday when they host Jefferson. East travels to Boylan Catholic High School on Friday.

Rockford East 59, Elgin Larkin 56
Elgin Larkin
Player	2s	3s	FT	FTA	Pts
Perez	3	1	0	0	9
Sharpe	0	0	0	0	0
Harvey	0	0	0	0	0
Stubbs	1	0	1	2	3
Wheeler-Thomas	3	3	3	4	18
Colen-York	0	0	0	0	0
Jakob Blakley	1	3	1	2	12
James Blakley	0	0	0	0	0
Maxie	2	0	0	0	4
Ivy	4	0	2	2	10
Totals	14	7	7	10	56
Rockford East
Player	2s	3s	FT	FTA	Pts
Crawford	1	0	0	1	2
Bates	3	0	1	2	7
Young	3	1	0	0	9
Hardaway	1	0	6	8	8
Jefferson	5	1	4	7	17
Jones-Sullivan	0	0	0	0	0
Kyles	1	1	0	0	5
Harris	0	0	0	0	0
Hoarde	5	0	1	3	11
Totals	19	3	12	21	59
	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Larkin	5	23	11	17	56
East	8	14	19	18	59

Jefferson beats Perspectives to finish 3-1

ROCKFORD - The Jefferson J-Hawks edged Chicago Perspectives, 43-40, to finish a strong first week for a program with an entirely new starting lineup.

Last year's J-Hawks finished 10-2 in the NIC-10 and 10-4 overall in the coronavirus-shortened season. But all of Jefferson's starters either graduated or transferred.

Jefferson finished the 205 Tip-Off Classic with a 3-1 mark. The J-Hawks open NIC-10 play Wednesday at East High School and then host Rockton Hononegah on Friday.

Perspectives finished the 205 Tip-Off Classic 0-4. The Wolves are 1-4 on the season and don't play again until Dec. 2 when they travel to Chicago Lindblom.

East St. Louis completes perfect Tip-Off run

ROCKFORD - The East St. Louis Fliers jumped out to a 20-12 first-quarter lead and were never challenged as they completed a 4-0 week in Rockford.

Christian Jones led the Fliers with 19 points and Macaleab Rich added 17 as East St. Louis won 78-60 over Guilford at Jefferson High School.

Senior guard Bryson Hodge scored 27 points for the Vikings and was perhaps the most surprising player in the Classic. Hodge had 29 points earlier in the week against Elgin Larkin.

The Fliers are waiting to see if Elgin Larkin beats Rockford East to see if they are declared 205 Tip-Off Classic champions. The Royals would be 5-0 if they beat the E-Rabs.

East St. Louis 78, Rockford Guilford 60
East St. Louis
Player	2s	3s	FT	FTA	Pts
McCline	0	2	0	0	6
Jones	4	3	2	2	19
Canslor	1	1	0	0	5
Johnson	2	0	2	2	6
Falconer	0	0	1	2	1
Bess	0	3	0	0	9
Rich	5	0	7	7	17
Hawkins	0	1	0	0	3
Brown	5	0	2	2	12
Totals	17	10	14	15	78
Rockford Guilford
Player	2s	3s	FT	FTA	Pts
Smith	1	1	3	3	8
Hodge	10	1	4	4	27
Dolby	2	1	4	4	11
Johnson	2	2	0	0	10
Gary	1	0	0	0	2
Bolden	0	0	2	6	2
Totals	16	5	13	17	60
	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
East St. Louis	20	16	19	23	78
Guilford	12	8	18	22	60

Harlem pulls away from North Chicago

ROCKFORD - Harlem improved to 2-3 in the 205 Tip-Off Classic by handing North Chicago its fourth straight loss, 66-43, at East High School.

The Warhawks were in the game longer than they were in a morning loss to Auburn at Jefferson High School, but North Chicago's lack of scoring punch other than Nasir Za Kai Young eventually took its toll. Young scored 23 points and Ellis Usher had 10. The rest of North Chicago combined for 10. In the four losses, Young scored 72 of North Chicago's 190 points.

Harlem was led by Alex Wilson's 16 points. Lathan Lewis added 12 and Riley Lundgren came off the bench to score 12 as well. Ten different Huskies scored.

Harlem had an interesting week. In its five games, it had four different leading scorers. Junior Dane Dailing was the top gun against Chicago Bogan and Perspectives. Deandre Young led Harlem against Elgin Larkin with 22. Lewis was the leading scorer against East St. Louis with 22 and Wilson was high man against North Chicago.

Machesney Park Harlem 66, North Chicago 43
North Chicago
Player	2s	3s	FT	FTA	Pts
Usher	3	1	1	2	10
Anderson	0	0	0	0	0
Illidge	0	0	0	0	0
Bosley	1	0	0	0	2
Young	10	0	3	6	23
Washington	3	0	0	0	6
Brooks	0	0	0	0	0
Morgan	0	0	0	0	0
Collins	1	0	0	0	2
Totals	18	1	4	8	43
Machesney Park Harlem
Player	2s	3s	FT	FTA	Pts
Henderson	0	0	0	0	0
Sherbon	1	0	0	0	2
Cline	1	0	1	2	3
Young	2	1	0	0	7
Lewis	3	1	3	4	12
Wilson	4	2	2	4	16
Dunbar	0	0	2	2	2
Winters	1	0	2	4	4
Phillips	1	0	1	2	3
Sheldon	0	0	0	0	0
Lundgren	5	0	2	4	12
Thornton	0	0	0	0	0
Dailing	0	1	2	2	5
Totals	18	5	15	24	66
	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
North Chicago	14	10	13	6	43
Harlem	18	19	15	14	66

Chicago Clark ends Jefferson's Tip-Off Classic win streak

ROCKFORD - Chicago Clark held the Jefferson J-Hawks to just 14 second-half points as the Eagles halted Jefferson's nine-game 205 Tip-Off Classic winning streak, 45-31, at Jefferson.

Jefferson had won the final three games of the 2018 Classic, all four contests in 2019 and the first two this year.

The shots wouldn't fall Saturday, though. The J-Hawks made just 10 field goals - four three-point shots - against Clark. Junior guard Josiah Williams was the only J-Hawk in double-figures with 10 points.

Clark finished its first 205 Tip-Off Classic with a 2-0 record. The Eagles beat Guilford 82-51 Friday night. Interestingly, C.J. Johnson, who scored a Classic-record 35 points against the Vikings, went scoreless Saturday. Mikell Jones led Clark with 16 points and Suliman Agiste had 13.

Jefferson has one game left to play in the Classic, a 5 p.m. contest against Chicago Perspectives.

Chicago Clark 45, Rockford Jefferson 31
Chicago Clark
Player	2s	3s	FT	FTA	Pts
Pitts	2	0	0	3	4
Mikell Jones	6	0	4	8	16
Mikqwon Jones	2	0	0	0	4
Wynn	1	0	0	0	2
Agiste	5	0	3	4	13
Lofton	2	0	1	1	5
Liberty	0	0	1	2	1
Totals	18	0	9	15	45
Rockford Jefferson
Player	2s	3s	FT	FTA	Pts
McGowens	0	0	2	2	2
Posley	1	1	3	4	8
Williams	3	2	0	0	10
Johnson	1	0	1	2	3
Gates	1	0	3	4	5
Bellinger	0	1	0	0	3
Totals	6	4	9	12	31
	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Clark	14	11	11	9	45
Jefferson	11	6	8	6	31

Balanced E-Rabs top Perspectives

ROCKFORD - The East E-Rabs had 12 players score in a 70-43 win over Chicago Perspectives Saturday afternoon.

East improved to 2-1 in the 205 Tip-Off Classic. The E-Rabs have one final game, a 6 p.m. shot at undefeated Elgin Larkin.

NeSean Hardaway had six of his 11 points in the first quarter as East built a 17-11 lead. Jeremiah Crawford scored seven of his team-high 12 points in the second quarter as the lead increaded to 29-17. Hardaway had another five in the third as East moved ahead 53-29.

Perspectives had no players reach double figures. The Wolves were led by Deon Cox's nine points.

Rockford East 70, Chicago Perspectives 43
Chicago Perspectives
Player	2s	3s	FT	FTA	Pts
Mason	1	1	0	2	5
Burns	1	0	0	0	2
Marble	2	0	0	0	4
Ramsey	2	0	1	4	5
Lawson	2	0	0	0	4
Cox	3	1	0	0	9
Graham	2	1	0	0	7
White	0	0	0	0	0
Smith	3	0	1	2	7
Totals	16	3	2	8	43
Rockford East
Player	2s	3s	FT	FTA	Pts
Larson	1	0	0	0	2
Crawford	3	2	0	0	12
Bates	0	0	0	0	0
Tate	0	0	2	2	2
Samuels	1	0	0	0	2
Young	2	0	0	2	4
Hardaway	2	1	4	4	11
Jefferson	1	1	0	0	5
Jones-Sullivan	2	0	5	6	9
Kyles	2	0	1	1	5
Harris	2	0	0	0	4
Curtis-Morris	3	0	0	0	6
Hoarde	4	0	0	0	8
Totals	23	4	12	15	70
	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Perspectives	11	6	12	14	43
East	17	12	24	17	70

East St. Louis blitzes Harlem early for third Tip-Off win

ROCKFORD - The East St. Louis Fliers scored the first 15 points and withstood a couple of Harlem rallies to win 88-67 and move to 3-0 in the 205 Tip-Off Classic.

The Fliers typically start a lineup where the shortest player is 6-3 point guard Daeveion Hawkins. Harlem's tallest starter is 6-3, so Saturday's game was going to be a tough matchup.

Still, the Huskies rallied, cutting East St. Louis' lead to 23-14 in the second quarter and to 11 points on a couple of occasions in the second half. Lathan Lewis had his best game of the week with 22 points. Juniors Deandre Young and Dane Dailing had 18 and 13 points each.

Macaleab Rich, a 6-6 junior forward, didn't start because of a sore knee. He came off the bench to score 31 points. Christian Jones, a University of Missouri recruit, scored 12.

East St. Louis has one game against Guilford left in the 205 Tip-Off Classic. Harlem (1-3) has a game left against North Chicago.

East St. Louis 88, Machesney Park Harlem 67
East St. Louis
Player	2s	3s	FT	FTA	Pts
McCline	0	4	2	2	14
Jones	4	0	4	6	12
Canslor	0	3	0	0	9
Johnson	2	0	2	4	6
Rich	9	2	7	7	31
Hawkins	0	1	0	3	3
Brown	5	0	3	5	13
Totals	20	10	18	24	88
Machesney Park Harlem
Player	2s	3s	FT	FTA	Pts
Henderson	0	0	2	4	2
Cline	0	2	0	0	6
Young	2	3	5	6	18
Lewis	3	4	4	6	22
Winters	1	0	0	0	2
Lundgren	1	0	2	2	4
Dailing	1	3	2	2	13
Totals	8	12	15	20	67
	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
East St. Louis	23	20	24	21	88
Harlem	10	23	18	16	67

Guilford gets first win, routes DRW

ROCKFORD - The Guilford Vikings picked up their first win in an easy 90-28 victory over DRW College Prep of Chicago.

Twelve Vikings played and 11 scored. Marquez Jordan, a junior guard, was high man with 15. Sophomore Malachi Johnson had 14 and Semaj Smith and Bryson Hodge had 11 each.

Guilford has one game left in the 205 Tip-Off Classic, a 3:30 p.m. game against East St. Louis at Jefferson High School. The Vikings start NIC-10 conference play this week with games at Belvidere North on Wednesday and home against Belvidere on Friday.

Tristan Jones had 14 for DRW College Prep. The charter school plays Chicago Bogan later today.

Rockford Guilford 90, DRW College Prep 28
DRW
Player	2s	3s	FT	FTA	Pts
Jones	3	2	2	5	14
Willet	0	0	0	0	0
Watson	1	0	0	0	2
Gamble	0	1	0	0	3
Thompson	0	1	0	0	3
Knox	1	0	0	0	2
Moore	1	0	0	2	2
Doss	1	0	0	0	2
Totals	7	4	2	7	28
Rockford Guilford
	2s	3s	FT	FTA	Pts
Burrell	4	0	0	0	8
Smith	5	0	1	2	11
Martin	3	0	0	0	6
Jordan	6	1	0	0	15
Hodge	4	1	0	0	11
Doby	0	1	0	0	3
Johnson	4	2	0	0	14
Gray	0	2	0	0	6
Gary	4	0	0	0	8
Bolden	1	0	2	4	4
Magazin	2	0	0	0	4
Berry-Sneed	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	33	7	3	6	90
	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
DRW	5	12	7	4	28
Guilford	35	23	22	10	90

Auburn too much for North Chicago

ROCKFORD - Auburn improved to 2-2 in the 205 Tip-Off Classic by running away from North Chicago, 79-30, in the first Saturday game at Jefferson High School.

The Warhawks scored the first five points of the game, but it was all Auburn from there on out. Nine different Knights scored. Terry Horton led Auburn with 18 points. Robert Chaney had 16 and Hanief Hannah had 10. Michael Jones, a sophomore center, had a solid opening week. He scored 34 points and led the Knights in rebounding.

Chaney finished with 50 points over the four games. Auburn opens NIC-10 play this week with games at Rockton Hononegah on Wednesday and Machesney Park Harlem Friday.

North Chicago dropped to 0-3 in the Classic with one game left to play against Harlem. Nasir Za Kai Young again led North Chicago with 12 points.

Rockford Auburn 79, North Chicago 30
North Chicago
Player	2s	3s	FT	FTA	Pts
Rand	1	0	0	0	2
Usher	1	0	3	4	5
Anderson	0	1	0	0	3
Illidge	1	0	0	0	2
Bosley	1	0	0	0	2
Morales	0	0	0	0	0
Young	4	1	1	2	12
Washington	0	0	0	0	0
Brooks	1	0	0	0	2
Morgan	0	0	0	0	0
Collins	1	0	0	0	2
Totals	10	2	4	6	30
Rockford Auburn
	2s	3s	FT	FTA	Pts
Agee	0	3	0	0	9
Ra. Chaney	1	0	0	0	2
Ro. Chaney	2	4	0	1	16
Harden	2	0	0	0	4
Neal	2	0	1	2	5
Horton	0	0	0	0	0
Horton-Lee	4	3	1	1	18
McKay	0	0	0	0	0
Hannah	2	1	3	6	10
Jones	3	0	2	4	8
Glass	2	0	3	4	7
Totals	18	11	10	18	79
	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
North Chicago	9	14	0	7	30
Rockford Auburn	25	21	21	12	79

205 Tip-Off Classic standings

 The 205 Tip-Off Classic isn't set up as a standard tournament with a championship game. To get the best competition, Rockford Public Schools invites teams to play either a full or partial schedule.

This year, Elgin Larkin agreed to take on a fifth game to make the schedule work. The Royals are 4-0 and have a final game Saturday night against Rockford East. If Elgin Larkin wins, they'll be the Class champions based on having a 5-0 record.

School	W	L	PF	PA
Elgin Larkin	4	0	299	241
Rockford Jefferson	2	0	137	86
East St. Louis	2	0	123	93
Chicago Clark	1	0	83	51
Chicago Bogan	2	1	207	215
Rockford East	1	1	119	88
Rockford Auburn	1	2	151	163
Machesney Park Harlem	1	2	189	207
Winnebago	0	1	70	71
Chicago DRW College Prep	0	1	25	74
Chicago Perspectives	0	2	93	119
North Chicago	0	2	90	134
Rockford Guilford	0	2	117	161